Alternative sewerage

systems for the provision of sanitation services

Main learning from a study in Africa, Asia and Latin America

Christophe Le Jallé, pS-Eau Jean-Marie Ily, pS-Eau

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “ALTERNATIVE SEWERAGE?”

Different from "conventional" sewerage because of : • their technical features (small diameter pipes, short length,

decentralised, etc.) or • the decentralized-driven approach for the management of

the service

Always considered in this study as a solution that encompasses the three segments of the sanitation chain

Small bore sewers, simplified sewerage, condominial sewerage …

© Reed

Aims of our study

• Identifying strengths and weaknesses, regarding technical, financial and management issues

• In which context small-bore sewers are relevant?

• Which recommendations for implementation?

Case studies and littérature review

The study was based on • case studies, done with the support of national consultant:

– Ramagundam, India, with Asit Nema, Foundation for Greentech Technologies

– Salvador, Recife and Brasilié, Brazil, with Antonio da Costa Miranda Nieto

– Kumasi, Ghana, with Lukman Y. Salifu, WasteCare Associates – Bamake and Mopti, Mali, with Assétou Sokona and Youssouf

Cissé, Water and Sanitation for Africa – Dakar and Saint-Louis, Senegal

+ visit in Vietnam

• literature review

Why to focus on management issues

Alternative sewerage systems are widely disseminated all over the world

But lot of them face difficulties

• Linked to the conception and dimensioning (not enough slope, Pipes level higher than household sanitation facilities level, etc.)

• But the main issue is linked to the question of Management of the services : – Institutional management: unclear responsibilities and

missing contractual framework and monitoring – O&M management: O&M skills are missing, operator is

not clearly identified for each level of maintenance – Financial management: recurring operating costs are

under-estimated, too few connexions , low collection rate of the sanitation fee, etc.

– User relation management

Main learning:

Small sewer system does not mean small

management!

Institutional management

• Clear role and responsibility of each stakeholders

• Contractual framework

• Real ownership by the Public authority (contracting authority)

• Monitoring and regulation mechanisms

O&M management

– A clear responsible identified for each levels of O&M:

• 1st level: household equipment maintenance

• 2nd level: routine small-bore sewer maintenance

• 3rd level: maintenance of the entire system and routine maintenance of the main sewer lines

• 4th level: lift pump and wastewater treatment plant O&M

– Service providers have the required capacity

1st level: household sewer equipment maintenance

2nd level: routine small-bore sewer maintenance

3rd level: heavy maintenance, maintenance of the entire system and routine maintenance of the main sewer lines

4th level: lift pump and wastewater treatment plant repair and maintenance

Financial management

• Revenue collection – collecting contributions to the connection fee from new users;

– collecting the sanitation fee from users to finance operations (paid directly to the operator or via the water operator if the sanitation fee is levied on the water bill);

– identify users that have defaulted on payment, issue reminders, then implement debt recovery measures;

– collect any additional funding (for instance, a municipal operating grant to finance operations. However, this type of funding is not recommended as it is rarely reliable over the long-term).

• Management of the disbursing expenses

• Monitoring operating income

User relations management

• Listening the expectations of the users and their difficulties regarding the service

• “Awareness-raising”

to foster the assimilation of a range of good practices among users (hygiene, maintenance of household facilities, payment of fees and charges).

• Marketting and “Promotion”

In order to stimulate demand

Conclusions

• Alternative sewerage systems are appropriated to specific contexts

• There are strong constraints in terms of management

Clarification of roles and responsibilities is needed

Professional capacities for the service provider is required

Available in the next few days: Country case studies and Analysis report

Coming soon: a guidebook

Thank You!

www.pseau.org/mini-egouts